Siddaramaiah warns protesters against ‘vandalism’, wants cooperation

Calling attack on Kannadigas and their properties in Tamil Nadu “condemnable”, he said: “At this time of difficulty we should not allow anger to take over.

The Karnataka government on Tuesday warned of “strict action against vandalism” after after a man was killed in Bengaluru in police firing to control violent protests against sharing Cauvery river water with Tamil Nadu.

Men ride a motorcycle past a lorry in Bengaluru, which was set on fire by protesters after the Supreme Court ordered Karnataka state to release 12,000 cubic feet of water per second every day from the Cauvery river to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. (Reuters)

“There is pain among Kannadigas that Karnataka has been facing repeated injustice over Cauvery river water sharing issue,” said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a video message appealing for peace.

“We are emotional on the issue of land, water and language, but we should not forget that humanity and human relationship within us is above all this,” he said.

Calling attack on Kannadigas and their properties in Tamil Nadu “condemnable”, he said: “At this time of difficulty we should not allow anger to take over.

“People of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu should cooperate in maintaining law and order in both states. I would also warn strict action against any one indulging in any kind of vandalism or disturbing peace,” he said.

Thousands of police and paramilitary officers were deployed on the largely deserted streets of the IT city, after stone-pelting mobs went on the rampage on Monday setting buses and cars ablaze.

Police have arrested some 200 protesters in the city in a bid to quell the violence, which has forced shops, businesses and schools to close.

The violence erupted over a Supreme Court order for Karnataka to release water from a river to ease a shortage in Tamil Nadu until later this month.